In case you missed it | Shocker: CU likes its new coach, AD

Boy, that sports headline in Brand X last week was a real surprise: “DiStefano: Leadership ‘best’ in years.”

It sounded vaguely familiar, the idea that when new coaches and athletics directors are hired at CU it’s a complete lovefest. Unfortunately, these love affairs don’t always last, as we have seen repeatedly over the years.

So just for fun, for comparison’s sake, we decided to look back at some of the quotes uttered by CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano and other CU officials at the time of certain hirings.

Here’s a good one, from CU Regent Jerry Rutledge in January 1999, right after former football coach Gary Barnett was hired: “I think we’ve chosen a great guy. He’s a man of integrity.” Barnett would go on, of course, to be at the center of one of the worst football scandals in CU history in 2004.

Here’s what DiStefano said when former football coach Dan Hawkins was hired: “His record of achievements on the field is impressive, but he also brings a deep commitment to the personal and academic growth of student-athletes in his charge.”

And when Jon Embree and Eric Bienemy were hired as head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, here’s what former Athletic Director Mike Bohn said: “Their football acumen is impressive.”

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Hopefully this time the story will have a happy ending.

More CU shenanigans

Speaking of CU, the idea that the Board of Regents isn’t at least subconsciously co-opted and unable to impartially evaluate President Bruce Benson while having a retreat at his mountain ranch is ludicrous.

Yes, out of the goodness of his job security, er, heart, Benson generously allowed his bosses to meet at his ranch near Kremmling this month. Talk about appearances of impropriety. Sure, it saves CU money, but it only adds fuel to the perception that the regents have always been pretty cozy with their hires instead of holding them accountable. It takes a real shit storm for the board to get rid of one of its presidents. (See Judith Albino, John Buechner and Betsy Hoffman.)

Oh, and speaking of impropriety, one of the topics at this Benson ranch retreat was a new initiative to examine and prioritize CU’s academic programs, presumably with the intent of eliminating duplication in the (un)holy name of efficiency. Oh, and to make sure there’s a job market for each field. Wouldn’t want anyone studying, oh, we don’t know, let’s just pick one — ethnic studies, for instance.

Last we checked, decisions on what should be taught at the university were the purview of the faculty, not a bunch of right-wing politicians.

Information bad

Are you serious? Just when you think our federal government could stoop no lower, along comes this gem about the Department of Homeland Security telling its employees to — wait for it — not read the newspaper.

The Washington Post, pesky government watchdog that it is, placed a link in one of its articles to a classified slide showing how the National Security Agency monitors international communications.

Well, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) didn’t like that one bit, so it sent a memo to DHS staff on July 12 warning employees that opening the link from a non-classified computer could be a violation of the non-disclosure agreement they’ve signed pledging to protect classified information related to national security.

“You may be subject to any administration or legal action from the Government,” the memo states.

So, even though the classified slide is now available to millions and millions of people via the Internet, the government is threatening its employees about opening it on their computers?

Typical bureaucrats. Can’t see the forest, but better make sure those individual trees follow the rules.